How it Works

What is Contra Costa County Math Circle?

The Contra Costa County Math Circle is a series of mathematical lectures that serves to foster mathematical interest beyond mundane calculations. It combines lecture by qualified instructors with individual discovery and mathematical experimentation to further develop mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills. The CC County Math circle is also partnered with the National Association of Math Circles shown here.

Our Mission Statement

The Contra Costa County Math Circle hopes to foster mathematical interest among middle school students who are not exposed to abstract mathematical concepts or difficult problem-solving in mathematical competition. In addition, the math circle wants to help develop the problem-solving skills of these students through exposure to creative problems in newer topics. Some examples of typical math circle questions would be as follows:

As you can see, both of these problems require a lot of individual student discovery by making conjectures and proving results. This allows them to gain a far deeper understanding than they normally would get if an instructor provided them with the proofs.

The difference between the traditional school classroom setting and math circle is the independence that students have in discovering new mathematical ideas. They are not prevented from exploring any new ideas, regardless of how trivial they may be. To partake in some interesting mathematical discussion, visit the mathematical forum at the Math Corner.

Where do we meet?

The Contra Costa County Math Circle meets from 6:30-7:30 pm PST every alternate Tuesday using Zoom Interactive conferencing. The lecturers are qualified high school students with significant mathematical experience and students are able to freely work on handout problems and attend the lecture based on their convenience. All past handouts and lectures can be found here.